Russian captain charged over crew member's presumed death in North Sea collision

In the United Kingdom, Vladimir Motin, the 59-year-old Russian captain of the Portugal-flagged cargo vessel Solong, has recently been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following a collision with a U.S. tanker, the MV Stena Immaculate, in the North Sea. The event occurred on March 10, 2025, resulting in the presumed death of crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national. Extensive searches have since confirmed that Pernia is now presumed dead, prompting his family to receive support from specialist officers. Motin was arrested on March 11, a day after the incident, and remanded in custody during his appearance in Hull Magistrates' Court. The court proceedings are set to continue at the Central Criminal Court on April 14, 2025. The cargo vessel Solong was bound from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when it collided with the stationary tanker that was anchored approximately 10 miles off the east coast of England. The investigation, led primarily by U.K. authorities with assistance from the U.S. and Portugal, will look into the factors contributing to the collision and assess whether any lapses in safety protocols occurred. Port inspection records prior to the incident revealed that the Solong had failed several safety checks, including steering-related issues in Dublin and deficiencies found during inspections in Scotland. Despite these findings, the ship was not detained after either inspection, which raises questions about regulatory oversight and the safety of vessels operating in busy maritime routes. Shipping company Ernst Russ, which owns the Solong, stated that the vessel had a crew composed of both Russian and Filipino nationals. As a result of this tragic incident, there are growing calls for stricter regulations and thorough investigations to prevent future accidents at sea, especially when human lives are at stake. The fatalities and presumed deaths in such incidents often ignite discussions around maritime safety, captain accountability, and the implications for the shipping industry as a whole. After the collision, the U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch is actively involved in the investigation, with the goal of producing a comprehensive report on the incident's circumstances. Additionally, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that the investigation is not considered a matter of national security at this time. As legal proceedings unfold, many will be watching closely, hoping that this case will lead to meaningful changes in maritime laws and enforcement that ensure the safety of crew members aboard vessels at sea.